Xu Ming'an smiled slightly and continued, "After the age of seven, the hunter grandfather who adopted me was also killed by mountain spirits. I took everything I could carry, including food, clothes, and vegetable seeds, and went up the mountain to return to my master's Taoist temple. The temple was already in ruins, with no incense burning, but I still stayed. I found my master's遗物 (yíwù - relics)."
He raised his hand and gently stroked the hilt of his sword. "This sword was used by my master to exorcise ghosts and kill demons. It was this sword that nailed my master to a tree. It's one of my master's few remaining possessions. Besides, I found his Taoist cultivation manual, called the 'Wuji Realm,' by his bedside. Later, when I went down the mountain, I met a Taoist from another temple. They laughed at me, saying my cultivation of the Wuji Realm was an utterly amateur Taoist art."
He said sheepishly, "I was unconvinced at the time and almost fought him. But thinking about it carefully, it seemed true. If this manual were truly good, my master wouldn't have remained only in the Lower Fifth Realm until his death."
"It's okay."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Does the profundity of Taoist arts matter? What's important is the person, not the techniques."
"Yes, that makes sense."
Xu Ming'an said, "I'm in the Fourth Realm now, and I still haven't caught up to my master's realm back then. But it's okay. Even though my realm is low, I still want to become like my master. I won't give up... exorcising ghosts, subduing demons, and helping lost souls pass on. Even if I end up with the same fate as my master, I won't regret it. At least I'll have the courage to see him in the netherworld..."
"You won't."
Lin Zhao let out a soft sigh and smiled, "Believe me, your future achievements will surely surpass your master's."
"I hope so."
Just then, Xu Ming'an let out a satisfied burp, his body filling with dense spiritual energy. After all, that Ao Shrimp demon was a cultivator of the Star River Realm, and half of its cultivation was in its physical body. Xu Ming'an didn't eat much, only half a shrimp claw's worth of meat, but the spiritual energy contained within it was incredibly rich. In the next moment, Xu Ming'an actually broke through his realm and became a Fifth Realm Taoist cultivator.
"..."
He sat up abruptly, almost unable to believe his eyes.
Lin Zhao, on the other hand, turned over, using his Dragon Slaying Sword as a pillow, and fell fast asleep, too lazy to witness such a display of naiveté.
...
Several days later.
Lin Zhao and Xu Ming'an traveled together, exorcising the wandering souls along the roads. They also encountered several squads of Great Shang cavalry, but there was no interaction between them. After all, there were more and more human cultivators in the Northern Region. Human sects from the south frequently sent disciples north to hone their skills. There was no training in the world that could compare to actual combat. Thus, it was no longer unusual for those Great Shang cavalry to see a sword cultivator and a Taoist traveling together.
The Nascent Soul stage demon cultivator followed them from a distance, appearing quite patient. Clearly, he didn't have absolute confidence in defeating Lin Zhao, a Golden Core stage sword cultivator. He intended to make his move after Lin Zhao and Xu Ming'an parted ways. Lin Zhao, however, was waiting for an opportunity to resolve this Nascent Soul stage demon in one go. Having it follow them around was also not a viable option.
In the early hours of the morning, rain began to fall from the sky.
Lin Zhao took out a straw cape and hat from his bamboo basket and put them on. Xu Ming'an, on the other hand, could only make do with a lotus leaf, looking extremely disheveled. In the dim night, a faint, dilapidated temple appeared on the mountain ahead. The two of them hurried towards it. They could only rest in this ruined temple for tonight. Through the curtain of rain, Lin Zhao sensed the aura of the Nascent Soul stage demon cultivator growing stronger and stronger, almost no longer bothering to conceal itself. Clearly, the other party had lost patience and would make a move to kill himself and Xu Ming'an tonight.
That Nascent Soul stage demon cultivator was a level 135 Earthly Grade boss. Lin Zhao was a level 123 sword cultivator. A one-on-one fight might be a bit risky, but the odds of winning wouldn't be too low, especially with talismans aiding him. However, Lin Zhao was still somewhat concerned. The demon was targeting Xu Ming'an, and a full-powered strike from a Nascent Soul stage cultivator would definitely be able to instantly kill a Fifth Realm cultivator.
While starting a fire to cook, he frowned. Under the cover of the rain, he lowered his voice and said to Xu Ming'an, "A great demon of the Nascent Soul Realm has taken notice of us. He'll appear shortly. Don't panic too much. When he attacks, try to use your True Martial Sword to defend yourself and focus on self-preservation. Don't worry too much; I should have a good chance of dealing with him."
"Nascent Soul Realm..."
Xu Ming'an's expression was one of horror. That was almost the limit of the realms he had ever heard of. The Nascent Soul Realm, was that the ultimate peak of legendary cultivators? What realms lay beyond that, Xu Ming'an had no idea. Moreover, the strength of demon cultivators was generally higher. Just how terrifying would this Nascent Soul stage cultivator be?
He looked at Lin Zhao. Could such a young sword cultivator truly contend against a Nascent Soul stage demon cultivator?
But he could only believe; there was no other choice.
"Wang Yue."
Lin Zhao patted the bamboo basket beside him. "It's almost dawn. Go back into the shrine and hide."
"Understood, Brother Lin Zhao."
Wang Yue followed Lin Zhao's words implicitly, returning to the shrine without asking any questions. Lin Zhao frowned, and with his fingers, he conjured a stack of Fiend Banishing Talismans. He gave five to Xu Ming'an. His reserves could only support the spiritual energy for five Fiend Banishing Talismans at most. He then placed many Fiend Banishing Talismans on the windows, the inner side of the temple door, and the pillars. His stamina was limited, so he couldn't use talismans continuously. Whether the Nascent Soul stage demon would stumble into them was a matter of fate. In this battle, the talismans could only be auxiliary; the ultimate victory would still depend on himself.
...
In the pot, a dried wild rabbit was being stewed, releasing its fragrant aroma. A figure wearing a straw cape and hat appeared in the rain outside the door. It was an ancient elder with white hair, his eyes gleaming sharply. He knocked on the temple door and said, "This old man lost track of time while traveling. Could I trouble you to let me shelter here from the rain?"
"Creak~~~"
He pushed the door open and entered, a sheepish smile on his face.
Lin Zhao raised his hand slightly and said with a smile, "Please make yourself comfortable, elder. Would you like some soup?"
"I won't bother you. I'll just warm myself by the fire."
The old man was very polite.
Xu Ming'an frowned. He couldn't even confirm if this person was a demon. His realm was too low; when he probed upwards, everything was a blur, and he couldn't detect anything.
In contrast, in Lin Zhao's eyes, this old man was radiating demonic energy, and a fluffy tail swayed behind him. He was, in fact, a Nascent Soul stage grey fox.
"Eat, eat."
Lin Zhao ladled out some soup and took a flatbread, handing them to Xu Ming'an, signaling him to eat quickly. Once the fight started, he wouldn't be able to eat anything, and they might not even be able to keep the pot. With that, Lin Zhao also filled a bowl of soup for himself and wolfed down two pieces of flatbread. After eating his fill, he poured another bowl of soup and offered it to the Nascent Soul stage fox demon. "Elder, would you like to have a little?"
"This..."
The other party feigned reluctance, "Isn't this too much?"
"It's fine, meeting by chance is fate."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Besides, a bowl of soup and a piece of bread is nothing. Please, have some, elder."
"Alright then."
The old man accepted the food, opened his mouth to drink the soup, when Lin Zhao raised his finger. A wisp of sword energy shot out from his fingertip, transforming into a flying sword, Ming Yue, and flew straight towards the demon's open mouth. He chuckled, "Let me help the elder clean his teeth!"
"Pfft!"
The flying sword Ming Yue, imbued with the divine power of Moon Fall, burst through the old man's skull with a "bang," dealing a terrifying critical hit of over 70,000 damage. Immediately after, Lin Zhao kicked the pot filled with hot soup towards the old fox's face, scalding him and making him yelp. Then, his sword, Li Quan, descended from the air. Sword Qi erupted around him, and a series of attacks, including "Sweep the Thousand Armies," "Universe Toss," and "Departing Sword Style," battered the elder.
"Damn it!"
The old man stopped pretending, revealing a ferocious expression. He sneered, "Youngsters of the human race are truly becoming more and more impolite. So disrespectful of elders!"
Lin Zhao directly unleashed his flying sword Hao Ran and struck the old man's chest, blasting him out of the temple. He then activated the "Sword Breaking Style," and a circular void appeared behind him. Sword lights shot out, crackling as they drove the elder into the rain. Lin Zhao then pointed his sword, and the impact of the sword energy propelled his body into the rain.
"Lin Zhao!"
Xu Ming'an drew his True Martial Sword and rushed out after Lin Zhao, at least to provide some backup.
The old fox scrambled to his feet, looking quite disheveled. Despite being a Ninth Realm cultivator, he was utterly outmatched by Lin Zhao, an Eighth Realm sword cultivator. As he spread his sleeves, three alluring fox tails appeared behind him. A vortex-like suction technique was unleashed, and for a moment, the raindrops in front of the ruined temple hung suspended in the air. He stared menacingly at Lin Zhao, "Come on, I'll see just how capable you Eighth Realm sword cultivator are!"
"The elder's request must be fulfilled!"
Lin Zhao laughed heartily, directly igniting four Fiend Banishing Talismans and throwing them out. He followed this with another "Sword Breaking Style" + "Departing Sword Style," summoning streaks of sharp sword light to attack the old man's suction technique. Seemingly feeling this wasn't enough, without a word, he directly ignited a "Sword Illuminating Talisman" that Lin Wan Hua had nurtured at the Twelfth Realm and threw it in as well.
Since he wanted to eat, he might as well eat his fill. No matter what, Lin Zhao had already decided to kill him. This great demon of the Nascent Soul Realm had to die, otherwise, Xu Ming'an might be the one to die. Although Xu Ming'an's cultivation was low, he possessed a pure and sincere heart. It would be too tragic for such a person to die. At least, Lin Zhao was unwilling to see that outcome.
For a time, explosions sounded repeatedly. The old fox was covered in blood from the sword lights and the Sword Illuminating Talisman. At this moment, Xu Ming'an bit his finger, smeared it on his sword's blade, and the True Martial Sword hummed. Strands of Taoist charms and seals rose around him, and in the next moment, they all surged towards the old fox. Xu Ming'an had one advantage over Lin Zhao: Lin Zhao carried the Dragon Slaying Sword on his back but couldn't control it, while Xu Ming'an carried the True Martial Sword, which had long recognized Xu Ming'an as its master.
In the blink of an eye, the old fox was covered in wounds, filled with regret. He wished he hadn't come. Who would have known that these two inconspicuous young human cultivators were both so ruthless!
He suddenly leaped into the air, one of his fox tails exploding, intending to escape!
...
"Not so fast!"
Lin Zhao raised his hand abruptly. A Sword Illuminating Talisman exploded in the air, as if Lin Wan Hua's sword strike had descended from the heavens. The old fox's body was instantly split in two, finally being slain!